Yield and quality of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) seeds in response to foliar application of boron

This paper presents the results of a 3-year field experiment conducted on soil with moderate levels of boron (B) in north-eastern Poland to determine the influence of foliar application of B (0, 150 and 300 g ha-1) on the yield components, yield, mineral composition, nutritional value and feed value of winter oilseed rape seeds. Foliar application of B at the beginning of bud formation in winter oilseed rape increased seed yield by 0.19 (3%) at the lower B fertilization level to 0.26 Mg ha-1 (4%) at the higher B fertilization level. The observed increase in the yield of winter oilseed rape seeds in response to foliar application of B can be attributed to this micronutrient’s positive influence on seed production in siliques. Foliar fertilization with B increased B content and decreased Zn and Fe levels in the seeds of winter oilseed rape. When B fertilizer was applied at the rate of 150–300 g ha-1, the N and Ca content of the evaluated seeds increased. The fertilizer improved the nutritional value (crude fat content, fatty acid concentrations) of seeds, but deteriorated their feed value (total protein content, acid detergent fiber concentrations, neutral detergent fiber concentrations, quantitative and qualitative composition of glucosinolates)

Plonowanie pszenżyta ozimego (x Triticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus) odmiany Alekto w zależności od intensywności technologii produkcji

Background. New production systems have to be designed to fully harness the potential of new triticale varieties. This requires determination of their responses to the major agricultural inputs such as nitrogen fertilization and pesticide use. Material and methods. A three-year field experiment was conducted in 2008–2011 in the Production and Experimental Station in Bałcyny (53°40ʼ N; 19°50ʼ E) owned by the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different levels of nitrogen fertilization and fungicide protection on the productivity of winter triticale cv. Alekto, and on the severity of foliar and ear diseases. The response of the semi-dwarf morphotype of winter triticale cv. Alekto to different rates of nitrogen fertilizer (90, 90 (60 + 30), 120 (60 + 60) and 150 (90 + 60) $kg N·ha^(-1)$) applied at different stages, and to different fungicide treatments was tested in the study. Results. The average grain yield determined for three years was significantly higher in the second highest input production system (120 $kg N·ha^(-1)$, applied at stages BBCH 27 (50%) and BBCH 32 (50%) with seed dressing and two foliar fungicide treatments at stages BBCH 31 and 39). The second highest input system was characterized by the most desirable yield components and the highest disease resistance. The lowest yield (decrease by 9–19%, three-year average) was noted in the low-input system with a single rate of nitrogen fertilizer (90 $kg N·ha^(-1)$) and only antifungal seed dressing. Conclusion. A nitrogen fertilizer rate of 120 $kg N·ha^(-1)$ combined with two foliar fungicide treatments exerted the most beneficial influence on the yield and disease resistance of semi-dwarf winter triticale.Wykorzystanie potencjału nowych odmian pszenżyta ozimego jest możliwe tylko w warunkach ustalenia odpowiedniej technologii produkcji, dlatego istnieje konieczność określenia ich reakcji na intensywność zastosowania podstawowych czynników agrotechnicznych, do których należy nawożenie azotem i ochrona przed chorobami. Celem badań było określenie produkcyjności oraz nasilenia występowania chorób liści i kłosa pszenżyta ozimego odmiany Alekto w zależności od poziomu nawożenia azotem, w warunkach zróżnicowanej ochrony fungicydowej. Trzyletnie ścisłe badania polowe prowadzono w latach 2008–2011 na polach Zakładu Produkcyjno-Doświadczalnego w Bałcynach (NE Polska, 53°40ʼ N; 19°50ʼ E), należącego do Uniwersytetu Warmińsko-Mazurskiego w Olsztynie. W badaniach testowano reakcję półkarłowego morfotypu pszenżyta ozimego odmiany Alekto na wielkość dawki nawożenia azotem (90; 90 (60 + 30); 120 (60 + 60) i 150 (90 + 60) $kg N·ha^(-1)$) i sposobu jej aplikacji (w stadium BBCH 27 i BBCH 32) przy różnej ochronie fungicydowej (w stadium BBCH 31 i BBCH 39). Półkarłowy morfotyp pszenżyta ozimego reagował istotną zwyżką plonu ziarna pod wpływem intensyfikacji technologii produkcji (120 $kg N·ha^(-1)$, z podziałem 50% (BBCH 27) i 50% (BBCH 32) i ochrony z użyciem zaprawy nasiennej + dwa zabiegi fungicydowe nalistne (BBCH 31 i 39). Taka technologia sprzyjała uzyskaniu najkorzystniejszych wartości elementów struktury plonu i największej odporności pszenżyta ozimego na choroby. Najmniej korzystna dla plonowania była niskonakładowa technologia produkcji, w której zastosowano nawożenie azotem jednorazowo w dawce 90 $kg N·ha^(-1)$ i ograniczano nasilenie grzybów patogenicznych zaprawą nasienną (spadek plonu o 9–19%). Korzystny wpływ azotu aplikowanego w dawce 120 $kg N·ha^(-1)$ z podziałem 60 kg N w stadium BBCH 27 i 60 kg N w stadium BBCH 32, przy dwukrotnej nalistnej ochronie fungicydowej w stadium BBCH 31 i BBCH 39, uzasadnia ich stosowanie w uprawie półkarłowej formy pszenżyta ozimego

Production of Biogas Using Maize Silage Supplemented with Residual Glycerine from Biodiesel Manufacturing

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of residual glycerine (5 and 10% w/w) from the biodiesel industry, used as a co-substrate, on biogas production from maize silage. The experiments were conducted in a laboratory-scale, single-stage anaerobic digester at 39ºC and hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 60 d. Addition of 5% residual glycerine caused organic load rate (OLR) to increase to 1.82 compared with 1.31 g organic dry matter (ODM) L-1d-1 for maize silage alone. The specific biogas production rate and biogas yield were 1.34 L L-1d-1 and 0.71 L g ODM-1 respectively, i.e. 86% and 30% higher than for maize alone. Increasing the residual glycerine content to 10% increased OLR (2.01 g ODM L-1d-1), but clearly decreased the specific biogas production rate and biogas yield to 0.50 L L-1d-1 and 0.13 L g ODM-1 respectively. This suggested that 10% glycerine content inhibited methanogenic bacteria and organics conversion into biogas. As a result, there was accumulation of propionic and valeric acids throughout the experiment

Moderation of Inulin and Polyphenolics Contents in Three Cultivars of Helianthus tuberosus L. by Potassium Fertilization

Jerusalem artichoke, a widely consumed edible, is an excellent source of inulin and selected phytochemicals. However, the improvement of its chemical composition by potassium fertilization has not yet been studied. Thus, the aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of different potassium (K) fertilization levels (K2O 150 kg ha−1, 250 kg ha−1, 350 kg ha−1) on the content of inulin; profile and changes in polyphenolic compounds; and the antioxidant capacity, including on-line ABTS antioxidant profiles of freeze-dried tubers originated from Violette de Rennes, Topstar, and Waldspindel cultivars. Inulin content was highest in the early maturing cv. Topstar. The application of 350 kg ha−1 of K fertilizer rates during the growth of cv. Topstar increased the inulin content of tubers by 13.2% relative to the lowest K fertilizer rate of 150 kg ha−1. In cv. Violette de Rennes, inulin accumulation increased in response to the fertilizer rate of 250 kg ha−1. A further increase in K fertilizer rates had no effect on inulin content. The inulin content of cv. Waldspindel was not modified by any of the tested K fertilizer rates. Thus, the accumulation of the inulin was cultivar-dependent. In the cultivars analyzed, 11 polyphenolic compounds were identified and polyphenolic compound content was affected by the applied rate of potassium fertilizer, which was dependent on the cultivar. Chlorogenic acid was the predominant phenolic acid in all cultivars, and it accounted for around 66.4% of the identified polyphenolic compounds in cv. Violette de Rennes and for around 77% of polyphenolic compounds in cv. Waldspindel and Topstar

Wpływ nawożenia mineralnego na składniki szkodliwe w bulwach ziemniaka o fioletowo-niebieskim miąższu

Background. There are few reports in the literature on the impact of agricultural technology on the content of mineral components in a type of potato, with purple-blue peel and flesh, that is not yet commonly grown in Poland. However, an increasing interest is being shown in these cultivars owing to their high content of healthy substances associated with the colour of the tuber flesh. The aim of this experiment was to determine optimal doses of soil fertilization with basic macronutrients used in potato cultivation and see how they affect the quality composition of potato tubers with purple-blue peel and flesh. Material and methods. In the first part of the experiment (I), nitrogen was applied as urea fertilizer (46% N) at doses of $40 kg·ha^(-1)$, $80 kg·ha^(-1)$ and $120 kg·ha^(-1)$. In the second part of the experiment (II), potassium was applied as potassium sulphate (50% K) at doses of $120 kg·ha^(-1)$, $150 kg·ha^(-1)$ and $180 kg·ha^(-1)$. Statistical analysis was performed using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (Statistica 10.0, StatSoft, USA). The Fisher’s LSD test was applied to assess significant differences (P < 0.05) between samples. Results. The following were determined in potato tubers: content of nitrates, content of total chlorophyll pigments and level of α solanine. The results suggest that optimal doses of fertilizers applied to soil for the cv. Blue Congo potato are: nitrogen $40 kg·ha^(-1)$ and potassium $120 kg·ha^(-1)$. Conclusion. At this level of mineral soil fertilization, the lowest content of nitrates was observed. Also, they were optimal doses with regard to total chlorophyll and toxic α solanine.Niewiele jest doniesień literatury na temat wpływu agrotechniki na zawartość składników mineralnych ziemniaka o fioletowo-niebieskiej skórce i miąższu, który w Polsce nie przyjął się jeszcze w powszechnej uprawie. Obserwuje się coraz większe zainteresowanie tymi odmianami ze względu na dużą zawartość substancji prozdrowotnych związanych z wybarwieniem miąższu. Celem przeprowadzonych badań było ustalenie optymalnych dawek nawożenia doglebowego podstawowymi makroelementami w uprawie ziemniaka, wpływającymi na skład jakościowy bulw ziemniaka o fioletowo-niebieskiej skórce i miąższu. Sadzeniak fioletowo-niebieskiej odmiany ziemniaka Blue Congo zakupiono w Finnish Seed Potato Centre Ltd. (Suomen Siemenperunakeskus, Finland). Eksperyment polowy zlokalizowano w Stacji Doświadczalno-Rolniczej w Tomaszkowie (53º42’ N; 20º26’ E, Polska). Dwa doświadczenia polowe przeprowadzono Niewiele jest doniesień literatury na temat wpływu agrotechniki na zawartość składników mineralnych ziemniaka o fioletowo-niebieskiej skórce i miąższu, który w Polsce nie przyjął się jeszcze w powszechnej uprawie. Obserwuje się coraz większe zainteresowanie tymi odmianami ze względu na dużą zawartość substancji prozdrowotnych związanych z wybarwieniem miąższu. Celem przeprowadzonych badań było ustalenie optymalnych dawek nawożenia doglebowego podstawowymi makroelementami w uprawie ziemniaka, wpływającymi na skład jakościowy bulw ziemniaka o fioletowo-niebieskiej skórce i miąższu. Sadzeniak fioletowo-niebieskiej odmiany ziemniaka Blue Congo zakupiono w Finnish Seed Potato Centre Ltd. (Suomen Siemenperunakeskus, Finland). Eksperyment polowy zlokalizowano w Stacji Doświadczalno-Rolniczej w Tomaszkowie (53º42’ N; 20º26’ E, Polska). Dwa doświadczenia polowe przeprowadzon

Energy Optimization in Different Production Technologies of Winter Triticale Grain

This article presents the results of a field experiment investigating the energy efficiency of grain produced by a semi-dwarf genotype of winter triticale at different levels of agricultural inputs. The energy efficiency of winter triticale grain production was evaluated in two low-input and two high-input cultivation practices that differed in the rate of nitrogen fertilizer (split application) and disease control. The energy inputs associated with the production of winter triticale grain at low levels of agricultural inputs were determined to be 14.5 to 14.7 GJ ha−1. Higher levels of agricultural inputs increased the demand for energy in grain production by 25% on average. The energy output of grain peaked (163.3 GJ ha−1) in response to a fertilizer rate of 120 kg ha−1 applied in a split ratio of 50:50 (BBCH 27/32) and two fungicide treatments (BBCH 31 and 39). The energy output of grain from the remaining cultivation regimes was 3–13% lower. The energy efficiency ratio was highest in the low-input cultivation regime with a nitrogen rate of 90 kg ha−1 split into two applications (60 and 30 kg ha−1 for BBCH 27 and 32, respectively), seed dressing with fungicide (thiram and tebuconazole) and one fungicide treatment (azoxystrobin) (BBCH 39)